EU Denounces Israel’s West Bank Land Appropriation

MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP/Getty18 Mar 2016

The Times of Israel reports: The European Union (EU) on Thursday blasted Israel’s land appropriation this week of 580 acres near the West Bank city of Jericho, saying it raises questions about Jerusalem’s commitment to the two-state solution.

The United States, United Kingdom and Germany have already condemned the decision, while the United Nation has urged Israel to reverse the move.

“Israel’s decision to declare 234 hectares near Jericho in Area C of the West Bank as state land is a further step that risks undermining the viability of a future Palestinian state and therefore calls into question Israel’s commitment to a two-state solution,” the EU said in a statement.

“Any decision that could enable further settlement expansion, which is illegal under international law and an obstacle to peace, will only drive the parties to the conflict even further apart,” it added.

The EU statement reiterated that it remains “firmly opposed” to all settlement activity.